Mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a mobile terminal varying in size, including a first frame, a second frame moving against the first frame in a first direction or a second direction reverse to the first direction, a drive unit switching the mobile terminal to an extended state or a contracted state by moving the second frame against the first frame in the first direction or the second direction, a display unit including a fixed part coupled to a front side of the first frame and a variable part extended in the first direction of the fixed part and bent to a backside by enclosing the second frame, a main board installed in the first frame, and a battery installed in the second frame to move together with the second frame.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119, this application claims the benefit of anearlier filing date and right of priority to International ApplicationNo. PCT/KR2021/002472, filed on Feb. 26, 2021, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal, and moreparticularly, to a mobile terminal that has a flexible display and iscapable of extending a size of a screen while the display is scrolledand slid at the same time.

Discussion of the Related Art

Terminals may be generally classified as mobile/portable terminals orstationary terminals according to their mobility. Mobile terminals mayalso be classified as handheld terminals or vehicle mounted terminalsaccording to whether or not a user can directly carry the terminal.

Mobile terminals have become increasingly more functional. Examples ofsuch functions include data and voice communications, capturing imagesand video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files via aspeaker system, and displaying images and video on a display. Somemobile terminals include additional functionality which supports gameplaying, while other terminals are configured as multimedia players.More recently, mobile terminals have been configured to receivebroadcast and multicast signals which permit viewing of content such asvideos and television programs.

As such functions become more diversified, the mobile terminal cansupport more complicated functions such as capturing images or video,reproducing music or video files, playing games, receiving broadcastsignals, and the like. By comprehensively and collectively implementingsuch functions, the mobile terminal may be embodied in the form of amultimedia player or device.

In order to implement various functions, an area of a display unitshould be increased, but a size of a mobile terminal should be reducedconsidering its portability. In order to satisfy the two propertiescontrary to each other, a bezel located around the display unit wasminimized to fill up a front side with the display unit.

Furthermore, there is a need for a mobile terminal that can be easilycarried and used by changing a size of the mobile terminal in a mannerof varying the size of the mobile terminal.

This trend is accelerating due to the recent emergence of a flexibledisplay unit. However, it is necessary to solve the problem ofdeteriorating usability due to configuration that is different from theexisting form factors.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to amobile terminal that substantially obviates one or more problems due tolimitations and disadvantages of the related art.

One technical task of the present disclosure is to provide a mobileterminal capable of providing a structure of stably supporting anextended display unit without deflection.

Another technical task of the present disclosure is to provide a mobileterminal capable of improving usability owing to insignificantdisplacement of center of gravity due to a shape change of the mobileterminal without inclination to one side.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the disclosure will beset forth in the disclosure herein as well as the accompanying drawings.Such aspects may also be appreciated by those skilled in the art basedon the disclosure herein.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, amobile terminal varying in size according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include a first frame, a second frame movingagainst the first frame in a first direction or a second directionreverse to the first direction, a drive unit switching the mobileterminal to an extended state or a contracted state by moving the secondframe against the first frame in the first direction or the seconddirection, a display unit including a fixed part coupled to a front sideof the first frame and a variable part extended in the first directionof the fixed part and bent to a backside by enclosing the second frame,a main board installed in the first frame, and a battery installed inthe second frame to move together with the second frame.

The first frame may be located above the second frame.

The drive unit may include a drive motor coupled to the second frame, apinion gear coupled to the drive motor to rotate, and a rack gearcoupled to the first frame to make a rectilinear motion in the firstdirection or the second direction by receiving a drive force of thepinion gear.

The rack gear may be disposed to overlap with the battery and the secondframe may include a gear slot having the rack gear located therein inthe contracted state.

The mobile terminal may further include a signal connecting partconnecting the battery and the main board, and the signal connectingpart may include a bent portion having an angle varying in response to astate of the mobile terminal.

The mobile terminal may further include a support link located betweenthe first frame and the second frame, an angle of the support link mayincrease on extension of the mobile terminal, the angle of the supportlink may decrease on contraction of the mobile terminal, and the signalconnecting part may be coupled to the support link and changes in angletogether with the support link.

The first frame may include a first front part located on a front sideof the mobile terminal and coupled to the fixed part of the display unitand a first rear part located on a backside of the mobile terminal, thesecond frame may include a second front part located between the firstfront part and the battery and a second rear part located on a backsideof the battery, and the variable part may switch from a backside of thesecond rear part to a front side of the second front part when thesecond frame moves in the first direction.

The battery may be located between the second front part and the secondrear part and have a thickness corresponding to a space between thesecond front part and the second rear part.

The second frame may further include a rear cover covering the variablepart located on the backside of the second rear part and the variablepart may slide to move between the rear cover and the second rear part.

The rear cover may include transparent substance transmitting light whenthe display unit located between the rear cover and the second rear partis activated.

The first rear part may include a first backside and a second backsidelocated in the first direction on the first backside and the rear covermay be extended in the second direction to cover the second backside inthe contacted state.

The rear cover may be disposed in a manner of overlapping with at leastone portion of the second backside in the extended state of the mobileterminal.

The first frame may further include a first guide rail located in alateral direction of the battery and extended in the first direction,the second frame may further include a second guide rail located at anend portion of either the second front part or the second rear part andcoupled to the guide rail so as to slide to move in the first direction,and the rear cover may cover the first guide rail and the second guiderail.

The first frame may include a first lateral part located on a lateralside of the mobile terminal, the second frame may include a secondlateral part located in third and fourth directions vertical to thefirst direction, and the first lateral part may include a first lateralside and a second lateral side covered by the second lateral part andexposed in the extended state of the mobile terminal.

The mobile terminal may further include a sub-board located within thesecond lateral part, a signal connecting part connecting the sub-boardand the main board, and an antenna radiation part located at the secondlateral part and supplied with output from the sub-board.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadlydescribed herein, a mobile terminal according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure may include a first frame, a second frame movingagainst the first frame in a first direction or a second direction, adisplay unit including a fixed part coupled to a front side of the firstframe and a variable part extended in the first direction of the fixedpart and bent to a backside by enclosing the second frame, and a firstguide rail extended in the first direction, wherein the second framecomprises a second guide rail fastened to the first guide rail to slideto move in the first direction and a rear cover covering the variablepart located on a rear side of the second frame, the first guide railand the second guide rail.

One of the first guide rail and the second guide rail may face a lateralpart of the mobile terminal.

The first guide rail and the second guide rail may be located on bothsides of the battery by being symmetric in a third direction vertical tothe first direction.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides the following effectsand/or advantages.

First of all, a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure may maintain a flat state of an extended display unitwithout deflection.

Secondly, as a mobile terminal is extended, since inner components aredistributed instead of being concentrated on one side, displacement ofcenter of gravity can be minimized. Since the center of gravity does notmove upward, a user can stably use the mobile terminal in the extendedstate.

Thirdly, it is possible to reduce the inflow of foreign materials intothe interior of a mobile terminal by minimizing the exposure ofcomponents to an extended part in an extended state of the mobileterminal.

In addition, the mobile terminal of the present disclosure may increaseusability in the extended state by minimizing the height difference atthe outer surface of the mobile terminal that occurs when the mobileterminal is extended.

Effects obtainable from the present disclosure may be non-limited by theabove-mentioned effects. And, other unmentioned effects can be clearlyunderstood from the following description by those having ordinary skillin the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present disclosure areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings,which are given by illustration only, and thus are not limitative of thepresent invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a first state and a second state of a mobileterminal;

FIG. 3 is a rear view illustrating a first state and a second state of amobile terminal;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional diagram of a mobile terminal accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a backside diagram showing inner components in a second stateof the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional diagram of a mobile terminal accordingto another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective diagram of a mobile terminal accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are diagrams showing inner components in a first stateand a second state, respectively;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a signal connecting part and a support linkinstalled inside a mobile terminal according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing slide movements of first and second frontparts and a linear guide of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are diagrams showing a user input unit according to anembodiment of a mobile terminal; and

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are diagrams showing an assembling sequence of amobile terminal according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplaryembodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to thedrawings, the same or equivalent components may be provided with thesame reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated. Ingeneral, a suffix such as “module” and “unit” may be used to refer toelements or components. Use of such a suffix herein is merely intendedto facilitate description of the specification, and the suffix itself isnot intended to give any special meaning or function. In the presentdisclosure, that which is well-known to one of ordinary skill in therelevant art has generally been omitted for the sake of brevity. Theaccompanying drawings are used to help easily understand varioustechnical features and it should be understood that the embodimentspresented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such,the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations,equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularlyset out in the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may beused herein to describe various elements, these elements should not belimited by these terms. These terms are generally only used todistinguish one element from another.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected with” another element, the element can be directly connectedwith the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Incontrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connectedwith” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

A singular representation may include a plural representation unless itrepresents a definitely different meaning from the context.

Terms such as “include” or “has” are used herein and should beunderstood that they are intended to indicate an existence of severalcomponents, functions or steps, disclosed in the specification, and itis also understood that greater or fewer components, functions, or stepsmay likewise be utilized.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal in accordance with thepresent disclosure. The mobile terminal 100 is shown having componentssuch as a wireless communication unit 110, an input unit 120, a sensingunit 140, an output unit 150, an interface unit 160, a memory 170, acontroller 180, and a power supply unit 190. Referring now to FIG. 1,the mobile terminal 100 is shown having wireless communication unit 110configured with several commonly implemented components. It isunderstood that implementing all of the illustrated components is not arequirement, and that greater or fewer components may alternatively beimplemented.

More specifically, the wireless communication unit 110 typicallyincludes one or more modules which permit communications such aswireless communications between the mobile terminal 100 and a wirelesscommunication system, communications between the mobile terminal 100 andanother mobile terminal, communications between the mobile terminal 100and an external server. Further, the wireless communication unit 110typically includes one or more modules which connect the mobile terminal100 to one or more networks.

To facilitate such communications, the wireless communication unit 110includes one or more of a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobilecommunication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, a short-rangecommunication module 114, and a location information module 115.

Regarding the wireless communication unit 110, the broadcast receivingmodule 111 is typically configured to receive a broadcast signal and/orbroadcast associated information from an external broadcast managingentity via a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may include asatellite channel, a terrestrial channel, or both. In some embodiments,two or more broadcast receiving modules 111 may be utilized tofacilitate simultaneously receiving of two or more broadcast channels,or to support switching among broadcast channels.

The mobile communication module 112 can transmit and/or receive wirelesssignals to and from one or more network entities. Typical examples of anetwork entity include a base station, an external mobile terminal, aserver, and the like. Such network entities form part of a mobilecommunication network, which is constructed according to technicalstandards or communication methods for mobile communications (forexample, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code DivisionMulti Access (CDMA), CDMA2000 (Code Division Multi Access 2000), EV-DO(Enhanced Voice-Data Optimized or Enhanced Voice-Data Only), WidebandCDMA (WCDMA), High Speed Downlink Packet access (HSDPA), HSUPA (HighSpeed Uplink Packet Access), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-A (Long TermEvolution-Advanced), and the like).

Examples of wireless signals transmitted and/or received via the mobilecommunication module 112 include audio call signals, video (telephony)call signals, or various formats of data to support communication oftext and multimedia messages.

The wireless Internet module 113 is configured to facilitate wirelessInternet access. This module may be internally or externally coupled tothe mobile terminal 100. The wireless Internet module 113 may transmitand/or receive wireless signals via communication networks according towireless Internet technologies.

Examples of such wireless Internet access include Wireless LAN (WLAN),Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Digital Living Network Alliance(DLNA), Wireless Broadband (WiBro), Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA),HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access), Long Term Evolution (LTE),LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced), and the like. The wirelessInternet module 113 may transmit/receive data according to one or moreof such wireless Internet technologies, and other Internet technologiesas well.

In some embodiments, when the wireless Internet access is implementedaccording to, for example, WiBro, HSDPA, HSUPA, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE,LTE-A and the like, as part of a mobile communication network, thewireless Internet module 113 performs such wireless Internet access. Assuch, the Internet module 113 may cooperate with, or function as, themobile communication module 112.

The short-range communication module 114 is configured to facilitateshort-range communications. Suitable technologies for implementing suchshort-range communications include BLUETOOTH™, Radio FrequencyIDentification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-WideBand(UWB), ZigBee, Near Field Communication (NFC), Wireless-Fidelity(Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Wireless USB (Wireless Universal Serial Bus), andthe like. The short-range communication module 114 in general supportswireless communications between the mobile terminal 100 and a wirelesscommunication system, communications between the mobile terminal 100 andanother mobile terminal 100, or communications between the mobileterminal and a network where another mobile terminal 100 (or an externalserver) is located, via wireless area networks. One example of thewireless area networks is a wireless personal area networks.

The location information module 115 is generally configured to detect,calculate, derive or otherwise identify a position of the mobileterminal. As an example, the location information module 115 includes aGlobal Position System (GPS) module, a Wi-Fi module, or both. Ifdesired, the location information module 115 may alternatively oradditionally function with any of the other modules of the wirelesscommunication unit 110 to obtain data related to the position of themobile terminal. As one example, when the mobile terminal uses a GPSmodule, a position of the mobile terminal may be acquired using a signalsent from a GPS satellite. As another example, when the mobile terminaluses the Wi-Fi module, a position of the mobile terminal can be acquiredbased on information related to a wireless access point (AP) whichtransmits or receives a wireless signal to or from the Wi-Fi module.

The input unit 120 includes a camera 121 for obtaining images or video,a microphone 122, which is one type of audio input device for inputtingan audio signal, and a user input unit 123 (for example, a touch key, apush key, a mechanical key, a soft key, and the like) for allowing auser to input information. Data (for example, audio, video, image, andthe like) is obtained by the input unit 120 and may be analyzed andprocessed by controller 180 according to device parameters, usercommands, and combinations thereof.

Such cameras 121 may process image frames of still pictures or videoobtained by image sensors in a video or image capture mode. Theprocessed image frames can be displayed on the display unit 151 orstored in memory 170. In some cases, the cameras 121 may be arranged ina matrix configuration to permit a plurality of images having variousangles or focal points to be input to the mobile terminal 100. Asanother example, the cameras 121 may be located in a stereoscopicarrangement to acquire left and right images for implementing astereoscopic image.

The microphone 122 is generally implemented to permit audio input to themobile terminal 100. The audio input can be processed in various mannersaccording to a function being executed in the mobile terminal 100. Ifdesired, the microphone 122 may include assorted noise removingalgorithms to remove unwanted noise generated in the course of receivingthe external audio.

The user input unit 123 is a component that permits input by a user.Such user input may enable the controller 180 to control operation ofthe mobile terminal 100. The user input unit 123 may include one or moreof a mechanical input element (for example, a key, a button located on afront and/or rear surface or a side surface of the mobile terminal 100,a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like), or atouch-sensitive input, among others. As one example, the touch-sensitiveinput may be a virtual key or a soft key, which is displayed on a touchscreen through software processing, or a touch key which is located onthe mobile terminal at a location that is other than the touch screen.On the other hand, the virtual key or the visual key may be displayed onthe touch screen in various shapes, for example, graphic, text, icon,video, or a combination thereof.

The sensing unit 140 is typically implemented using one or more sensorsconfigured to sense internal information of the mobile terminal, thesurrounding environment of the mobile terminal, user information, andthe like. For example, the sensing unit 140 may alternatively oradditionally include other types of sensors or devices, such as aproximity sensor 141 and an illumination sensor 142, a touch sensor, anacceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, a G-sensor, a gyroscope sensor,a motion sensor, an RGB sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a finger scansensor, a ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor (for example, camera121), a microphone 122, a battery gauge, an environment sensor (forexample, a barometer, a hygrometer, a thermometer, a radiation detectionsensor, a thermal sensor, and a gas sensor, among others), and achemical sensor (for example, an electronic nose, a health care sensor,a biometric sensor, and the like), to name a few. The mobile terminal100 may be configured to utilize information obtained from sensing unit140, and in particular, information obtained from one or more sensors ofthe sensing unit 140, and combinations thereof.

The output unit 150 is typically configured to output various types ofinformation, such as audio, video, tactile output, and the like. Theoutput unit 150 is shown having a display unit 151, an audio outputmodule 152, a haptic module 153, and an optical output module 154. Thedisplay unit 151 may have an inter-layered structure or an integratedstructure with a touch sensor in order to facilitate a touch screen. Thetouch screen may provide an output interface between the mobile terminal100 and a user, as well as function as the user input unit 123 whichprovides an input interface between the mobile terminal 100 and theuser.

The audio output module 152 is generally configured to output audiodata. Such audio data may be obtained from any of a number of differentsources, such that the audio data may be received from the wirelesscommunication unit 110 or may have been stored in the memory 170. Theaudio data may be output during modes such as a signal reception mode, acall mode, a record mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcastreception mode, and the like. The audio output module 152 can provideaudible output related to a particular function (e.g., a call signalreception sound, a message reception sound, etc.) performed by themobile terminal 100. The audio output module 152 may also be implementedas a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, or the like.

A haptic module 153 can be configured to generate various tactileeffects that a user feels, perceive, or otherwise experience. A typicalexample of a tactile effect generated by the haptic module 153 isvibration. The strength, pattern and the like of the vibration generatedby the haptic module 153 can be controlled by user selection or settingby the controller. For example, the haptic module 153 may outputdifferent vibrations in a combining manner or a sequential manner.

An optical output module 154 can output a signal for indicating an eventgeneration using light of a light source. Examples of events generatedin the mobile terminal 100 may include message reception, call signalreception, a missed call, an alarm, a schedule notice, an emailreception, information reception through an application, and the like.

The interface unit 160 serves as an interface with various types ofexternal devices that can be coupled to the mobile terminal 100. Theinterface unit 160, for example, may include any of wired or wirelessports, external power supply ports, wired or wireless data ports, memorycard ports, ports for connecting a device having an identificationmodule, audio input/output (I/O) ports, video I/O ports, earphone ports,and the like. In some cases, the mobile terminal 100 may performassorted control functions associated with a connected external device,in response to the external device being connected to the interface unit160.

The memory 170 is typically implemented to store data to support variousfunctions or features of the mobile terminal 100. For instance, thememory 170 may be configured to store application programs executed inthe mobile terminal 100, data or instructions for operations of themobile terminal 100, and the like. Some of these application programsmay be downloaded from an external server via wireless communication.Other application programs may be installed within the mobile terminal100 at time of manufacturing or shipping, which is typically the casefor basic functions of the mobile terminal 100 (for example, receiving acall, placing a call, receiving a message, sending a message, and thelike). It is common for application programs to be stored in the memory170, installed in the mobile terminal 100, and executed by thecontroller 180 to perform an operation (or function) for the mobileterminal 100.

The controller 180 typically functions to control overall operation ofthe mobile terminal 100, in addition to the operations associated withthe application programs. The controller 180 may provide or processinformation or functions appropriate for a user by processing signals,data, information and the like, which are input or output, or activatingapplication programs stored in the memory 170.

To drive the application programs stored in the memory 170, thecontroller 180 may be implemented to control a predetermined number ofthe components mentioned above in reference with FIG. 1. Moreover, thecontroller 180 may be implemented to combinedly operate two or more ofthe components provided in the mobile terminal 100 to drive theapplication programs.

The power supply unit 190 can be configured to receive external power orprovide internal power in order to supply appropriate power required foroperating elements and components included in the mobile terminal 100.The power supply unit 190 may include a battery, and the battery may beconfigured to be embedded in the terminal body, or configured to bedetachable from the terminal body.

Some or more of the components may be operated cooperatively to embodyan operation, control or a control method of the mobile terminal inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, theoperation, control or control method of the mobile terminal may berealized on the mobile terminal by driving of one or more applicationproblems stored in the memory 170.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing the mobile terminal 100 that may bevaried in size, FIG. 2 is a front view of a first state and a secondstate of the mobile terminal 100, and FIG. 3 is a rear view illustratingthe first state and the second state of the mobile terminal 100. Themobile terminal 100 includes frames 101 and 102 that slide such that thesize of the mobile terminal 100 may be changed. A first frame 101 and asecond frame 102 that slides relative to the first frame 101 areincluded. When the second frame 102 moves in a first direction D1, astate of the mobile terminal 100 is switched to an extended state (asecond state). In addition, when the second frame 102 moves in a seconddirection opposite to the first direction, the state of the mobileterminal 100 is switched to a contracted state (a first state).

The movement of the second frame 102 is a movement relative to the firstframe 101. If the second frame 102 becomes a reference, when the firstframe 101 slides in the second direction D2, the mobile terminal 100switches to the second state extended. When the first frame 101 slidesin the first direction D1, the mobile terminal 100 switches to the firststate contracted.

If the first frame 101 and the second frame 102 are disposed intop-bottom direction like the present embodiment, a user holds thesecond frame 102 located at the bottom, so the first frame 101 moves intop direction from the user's perspective. Hence, the mobile terminal100 may be recognized as extended upward.

In the following description, the direction in which the mobile terminal100 and the display unit 151 thereof are extended or enlarged is definedas a first direction, and the direction in which the mobile terminalcontracts or retracts or is reduced to switch from the second state tothe first state is defined as a second direction. A directionperpendicular to the first and second directions is defined as a thirddirection. Description will be made on the assumption that the first andsecond directions are horizontal directions and the third direction is avertical direction. However, depending on the arrangement of the mobileterminal 100, the first and second directions may be vertical directionsand the third direction may be a horizontal direction.

(a) in FIG. 2 and (a) in FIG. 3 show the first state that is thecontracted state, and (b) in FIG. 2 and (b) in FIG. 3 show the secondstate that is the extended state. Even in the extended state switched asthe second frame 102 moves in the first direction, the first frame 101and the second frame 102 have an overlapping portion.

In the first state, one of the first frame 101 and the second frame 102may be disposed to surround the other and be disposed outward of theother. The first frame 101 may be disposed outward of the second frame102 in some embodiments, and the second frame 102 may be disposedoutward of the first frame 101 in some embodiments.

In order to extend the mobile terminal 100 while the second frame 102moves against the first frame 101, the first and second frames 101 an102 partially overlap each other. At least one side of the first frame101 and the second frame 102 may include a portion configured to remaininside in the contracted state of the mobile terminal 100 and be exposedexternally in the extended state of the mobile terminal 100.

A backside and lateral side of the mobile terminal 100 may includeportions configured to be selectively exposed in part on switching tothe second state or located inside of another member in the first state.In the present embodiment, the portion of the second frame exposedexternally is fixed and the first frame 101 may include a portion alwaysexposed externally and a portion selectively exposed.

As shown in FIG. 2 (b), an extended front side of the mobile terminal inthe second state extended is covered by the display unit 151 so that aninside of the mobile terminal 100 is not exposed.

An area of the display unit 151 located on the front side of the mobileterminal 100 may vary depending on whether the frame 101 and 102 of themobile terminal 100 is extended. A front side area of the display unit151 in the second state may have a size greater than that in the firststate. The display unit 151 includes a fixed part 151 a fixed to thefront side of the first frame 101 so as to be always located on thefront side of the mobile terminal irrespective of the state of themobile terminal 100 and a variable part 151 b located on the front sideor the backside depending on whether the mobile terminal 100 isextended.

The fixed part 151 a is always located on the front side by beingcoupled to the front side of the first frame 101 of the display unit151, thereby configuring a portion of the front part. As the fixed part151 a is fixed to the first frame 101, it is characterized inmaintaining a uniform shape without changing flexibility. On the otherhand, the variable part 151 b means a portion at which an angle of aflexed portion varies or a portion at which a location of a flexedportion is changed. In the second state of the mobile terminal, as thevariable part moves to a front side, the fixed part and the variablepart simultaneously located at the front part.

The variable part 151 b includes a lateral part located in a lateraldirection of the mobile terminal 100, and a location of the lateral partvaries depending on a location of the second frame 102. Based on thelateral part, a size of a region located on the front side and a size ofa region located on the backside are changed. Some of the variable part151 b may become the front part or the backside part depending on thefirst or second state.

Based on the mobile terminal 100, the variable part 151 b is located inthe first direction to the fixed part 151 a and an end portion of thevariable part 151 b is bent in a direction of the backside of the mobileterminal 100 and slides to move on the backside of the second frame 102.

The end portion of the variable part 151 b of the display unit 151 iscoupled with a slide frame 103 guiding to slide on the backside of thesecond frame 102, and the slide frame 103 moves on the second frame 102in the first direction as soon as the second frame 102 moves in thefirst direction. Consequently, a moving distance of the slide frame 103amounts to a distance twice longer for the first frame 101 in comparisonto the second frame 102.

As such, a flexible display unit 151 which is bendable may be used asthe display unit such that the position of the display unit may move tofront side or rear side. The flexible display unit 151 may be a displayunit capable of maintaining a flat state like a conventional flat paneldisplay and capable of warping, bending, folding, twisting, or rollinglike paper. The flexible display unit 151 refers to a display which ismanufactured on a thin and flexible substrate and is thus lightweightand robust as not to be easily broken. The flexible display unitaccording the present disclosure may be bent in a specific direction,and may be arranged such that the curvature thereof may change in thefirst direction.

In addition, an electronic paper is a display technology to whichproperties of general ink are applied. The electronic paper may bedifferent from the conventional flat panel display in using reflectedlight. The electronic paper may change information using a twisted ballor electrophoresis using a capsule. In a state in which the flexibledisplay unit 151 is not deformed (e.g., a state of having an infinitecurvature radius, hereinafter referred to as a basic state), a displayarea of the flexible display unit 151 becomes flat. In a state in whichthe flexible display unit 151 is deformed by an external force from thebasic state (e.g., a state of having a finite radius of curvature,hereinafter referred to as a deformed state), the display area maybecome a curved face. As shown, information displayed in the deformationstate may be visual information output on the curved face. Such visualinformation is implemented by independently controlling light emissionof sub-pixels arranged in a matrix. The sub-pixel refers to a minimumunit for implementing one color. When external force is applied to theflexible display unit 151, the flexible display unit 151 may be deformedto switch from the default state, which is the flat state, to a bentstate, which is not the flat state.

The flexible display unit 151 may be combined with a touch sensor toimplement a flexible touch screen. When a touch is made on the flexibletouch screen, the controller 180 (see FIG. 1) may perform controlcorresponding to such touch input. The flexible touch screen may beconfigured to detect the touch input in the deformed state as well as inthe basic state.

The touch sensor detects the touch (or touch input) applied on the touchscreen using at least one of various touch schemes such as a resistivefilm scheme, a capacitance scheme, an infrared scheme, an ultrasonicwave scheme, a magnetic field scheme, and the like.

As an example, the touch sensor may be configured to convert a change inpressure applied on a specific portion of the touch screen, capacitancegenerated at the specific portion, or the like into an electrical inputsignal. The touch sensor may be configured such that a touch objectapplying a touch on the touch screen may detect touched position andarea on the touch sensor, a pressure during the touch, a capacitanceduring the touch, and the like.

Further, the mobile terminal 100 may have a deformation detection meansfor detecting the deformation of the flexible display unit 151. Suchdeformation detection means may be included in the sensing unit 140 (seeFIG. 1).

The deformation detection means may be disposed in the flexible displayunit 151 or a case (first to second frames 101 to 102 to be describedlater) to detect information related to the deformation of the flexibledisplay unit 151. In this connection, the information related to thedeformation may include a direction in which the flexible display unit151 is deformed, a degree of the deformation, a deformed position, adeformed time, an acceleration at which the deformed flexible displayunit 151 is restored, and the like. In addition, the information relatedto the deformation may include various kinds of information that may bedetected due to the bending of the flexible display unit 151.

In addition, the controller 180 may change information displayed on theflexible display unit 151 or generate a control signal for controlling afunction of the mobile terminal 100 based on the information related tothe deformation of the flexible display unit 151 detected by thedeformation detection means.

The deformation of the flexible display unit 151 may vary depending onthe positions of the first frame 101 and the second frame 102. As shownin FIG. 2, since the bending position on the flexible display unit 151is determined according to the positions of the first frame and thesecond frame, the bending deformation position of the flexible displayunit 151 and the area thereof positioned on the front may be calculatedbased on the positions of the first frame 101 and the first frame 102 inplace of the deformation detection means of the flexible display unit151.

The state conversion (first or second state) of the flexible displayunit 151, i.e., the size change at the front and rear faces of themobile terminal 100 of the display unit 151 based on the size change ofthe mobile terminal 100 may be performed manually by a force applied bythe user, but may be not limited to such manual scheme. For example,when the mobile terminal 100 or the flexible display unit 151 is in thefirst state, the mobile terminal 100 or the flexible display unit 151may be converted into the second state by the user or an applicationcommand without the external force applied by the user. As such, inorder for the flexible display unit 151 to be automatically deformedwithout the external force, the mobile terminal 100 may include adriving unit 200, which will be described later.

The flexible display unit 151 of the present disclosure is bent 180degrees by rolling around a side portion of the mobile terminal 100facing in the first direction. Accordingly, based on the side portion ofthe mobile terminal 100, a part of the flexible display unit 151 isdisposed on the front of the mobile terminal 100, and the other part ofthe flexible display unit 151 is disposed on the rear of the mobileterminal 100. For simplicity, the part of the flexible display unit 151positioned on the front is called a front face, and the other part ofthe flexible display unit 151 positioned on the rear is called a rearface. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal may extend in thefirst direction or contract in the second direction opposite to thefirst direction. In this case, the area of the flexible display unit 151positioned on the front changes. That is, the sizes of the front faceand the rear face may be changed according to a change in the state ofthe mobile terminal.

In addition, the flexible display unit 151 may be rolled on or releasedat the side portion in the first direction of mobile terminal.Accordingly, the rear face of the display unit 151 moves, so that thesize of the front face of the display unit 151 may be adjusted. Sincethe size of the flexible display unit 151 is determined and the flexibledisplay unit 151 is formed of one continuous body, an area of rear faceof the display unit 151 decreases as an area of the front face of thedisplay unit 151 increases. Such a display unit 151 may be rolled in asecond frame 102, which is movable relative to a first frame 101 to bedescribed later, more correctly, on one of sides of the second frame102. The display unit 151 may be withdrawn or pulled out from orinserted or pushed into the second frame 102 while being rolled in thesecond frame 102 along a moving direction of the second frame 102 toadjust the area of the display unit 151 on the front face of the mobileterminal 100.

Since the variable part 151 b is flexible, it needs a support structureon its backside to maintain a flat state. To support the backside of thevariable part 151 b, further includes is a rolling hinge capable ofmaintaining a flat state of the variable part 151 b as well as enablingflex deformation of the variable part 151 b.

The rolling hinge 104 is located on the backside of the variable part151 b of the display unit 151 and may support it to be flexed in thefirst direction or maintain a flat plane without being flexed in a thirddirection vertical to the first direction. The rolling hinge 104includes a plurality of support bars extended in the third direction. Aplurality of the support bars are disposed side by side in the firstdirection. Through an angle change between the support bars, the rollinghinge 104 may be flexed together with the variable part 151 b. Both endportions of the support bar may include slide hooks moving along sliderails formed on the second frame 102 to guide the movement of thedisplay unit 151.

A rolling sheet located between the support bar and the display unit 151may include a cuff pattern configured with a plurality of slits extendedin the third direction to facilitate deformation in the first direction.In the cuff pattern, the slots extended in the third direction aredisposed cornerwise. The cuff pattern restricts the deformation in thethird direction but allows flex deformation in the first direction only.

The second frame 102 may include a roll bracket 1028 (see FIG. 6)including a curved surface inside. A location of the roll bracket 1028is non-limited. Yet, the roll bracket 1028 may be disposed at a firstdirection end portion of the second frame 102 to provide a maximum-sizescreen to a front side. Such a roll bracket 1028 may have a bar shapeextended in the third direction vertical to the first direction andincluding a curved surface so as to have the display unit 151 woundthereon and may

In addition to prevent the breakage of the display unit 151 wound aroundthe roll bracket 1028, a side frame 1024 disposed at the first directionend portion of the second frame 102 may be included.

FIG. 4 is a lateral cross-sectional diagram according to one embodimentof the present disclosure and shows the cross-sections A-A and B-B ofFIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a backside diagram showing inner components in thesecond state of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. The present embodimentshows an example that the battery 191 is installed in the first frame101. The battery 191 is located between a first front part 1011 and afirst rear part 1012 of the first frame, and an open space in a bottompart of the first rear part 1012 may be covered via a rear cover 1025.

In case that the battery 191 is located in the first frame 101 Like thepresent embodiment, since most of the components are located in thefirst frame 101, the types of electronic components installed in thesecond frame 102 may limitedly include the lateral antenna, the userinput unit 123, the coil antenna 114 on the backside and the like. Sincethe battery 191 and the main board 181 are located in the first frame101 together, a signal connecting part 185 b connecting the respectivecomponents can be configured more neatly.

According to the present embodiment, when the mobile terminal 100switches to the second state, an empty space is formed under the battery191. The second frame 102 enclosing the front and rear of the battery191 moves in the first direction and supports the backside of thevariable part 151 b having moved forward. As an empty space is formed inthe second frame 102 located on the backside of the variable part 151 bin the second state, if a significant force is applied to a front side,flex deformation may occur. To increase bearing power of the secondframe 102, a support link 220 unfolded in an extended portion may befurther included. The support link 220 is folded in the first state tominimize an installation space or unfolded in the second state toreinforce the rigidity of the extended portion.

Since the battery 191 is located in the first frame 101, the drive unit200 is located in the first direction rather than the battery 191 andmay guide the slide movement between the first frame 101 and the secondframe 102.

In the present embodiment, a drive motor 201 is located in the frame101, a rack gear 203 is located in the second frame 102, and the rackgear 203 and the second frame 102 move in the first direction againstthe first frame 101. Since the drive motor 201 is disposed in a mannerof being inclined to the first direction, the drive motor 201 and therack gear 203 may be located in the first frame 101 and the second frame102 in consideration of a moving space of the rack gear 203,respectively.

In case that the battery 191 is disposed in the first frame 101 like thepresent embodiment, most of the components are disposed in the firstframe 101. Hence, there is an effect that center of gravity is inclinedto one side when the mobile terminal 100 is extended. Particularly, incase that the first and second frames 101 and 102 are disposed in thetop-bottom direction like the present disclosure, when the first frame101 moves upward, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the center of gravity movesupward. While a user holds the bottom (i.e., second frame) of the mobileterminal, if the center of gravity moves upward, the mobile terminal maybe easily dropped from the user's hand.

To solve the above problem, components in a frame need to be disposed ina manner of being distributed in a second state to minimize the shift ofcenter of gravity even in the second state.

As shown in FIG. 6, the battery 191 is disposed in the second frame ofthe mobile terminal 100, thereby minimizing the shift of center ofgravity on switching to the second state. FIG. 6 shows anotherembodiment of the cross-sectional diagram of A-A and B-B shown in FIG.3, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective diagram of the embodiment shownin FIG. 6.

The respective components of the mobile terminal 100 according to thepresent embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6and FIG. 7 as follows.

First of all, the first frame 101 includes a first front part 1011located on a front side of the mobile terminal 100 to be coupled withthe fixed part 151 a of the display unit 151 and a first rear part 1012located on a rear side of the mobile terminal 100. The first rear part1012 may include a first backside 1012 a always exposed externally and asecond backside 1012 b exposed externally in an extended state only. Asshown in FIG. 3, the second backside 1012 b is not externally exposed inthe first state by being covered with a rear cover 1025 of the secondframe 102 but is externally exposed in the second state.

The second frame 102 includes a second front part 1021 located on thefront side and a second rear part 1022 located on the rear side of themobile terminal 100. The second front part 1021 is located on thebackside of the first front part 1011 in the first state or withdrawn inthe second state from the first front part 100 in the first direction.

The display unit 151 may not be fixed to the second frame 102 but aposition on the second frame 102 may be variable in response to a slidemovement of the second frame 102. The variable part 151 b of the displayunit 151 is located on the backside and lateral side of the second frame102 in the first state of the mobile terminal 100. The variable part 151b located on the backside moves to the front side of the second frame102 in the second state.

The second front part 1022 supports the variable part 151 b having movedto the front side in the second state, and the second rear part 1022supports the variable part 151 b having moved to the rear side in thefirst state.

The slide frame 103 connected to the end portion of the display unit 151to enable the display unit 151 to slide to move moves on the backside ofthe rear part 1022. The display unit 151 coupled to the slide frame 103is a moving part sliding to move in response to a movement of the slideframe 103 and is disposed to face the backside direction of the mobileterminal 100 at all times. Since the moving part does not move to thefront side, it may restrict a front side area of the display unit 151and fix the variable part 151 b having moved to the front side tomaintain a flat state by pulling on the variable part 151 b.

The second frame 102 may further include a rear cover 1025 covering thevariable part 151 b located on the backside of the second rear part1022. If the end portion of the display unit 151, i.e., the moving partis exposed externally, the display unit 151 may be broken possibly. Therear cove r 1025 may prevent the rear side of the display unit 151 frombeing externally exposed in direct. The second rear part 1022 mayinclude a guide member (not shown) guiding a slide movement of the slideframe 103 moving on the backside of the second rear part 1022, and therear cover 1025 may cover the guide member not to be exposed externally.

The rear cover 102 may be formed of opaque substance or containtransparent substance. The transparent rear cover 1025 may provide auser with information using the display unit 151 located on the backsidein the first state.

For example, when a user takes a shot in a user-standing direction usinga camera located in rear, the user may watch a preview image of thecamera via the display unit 151. In case that the mobile terminal 100 isplaced in a manner that a backside direction faces upward, an alarm andthe like may be provided via the display unit 151 located on thebackside.

Yet, since the second rear part 1022 may be visually exposed through therear cover 1025 in the second state, it may perform coating (or tinting)for lowering transmittance to make an interior only viewable if thedisplay unit 151 is turned on, i.e., light is projected from an inside.

The rear cover 1025 may cover the second backside 1012 b of the firstframe 101 by being extended in the second direction from a portion thatcovers the rear part of the display unit 151. As shown in FIG. 3 (a),the rear cover 1025 may form a backside exterior of the mobile terminal100 in the first state while covering the second backside 1012 b in thefirst state together with the first backside 1012 a.

As shown in FIG. 3 (b), if switching to the second state, the secondbackside 1012 b is exposed through the backside. To prevent thecomponents inside the mobile terminal 100 from being exposed, as shownin FIG. 6 (b), the second backside 1012 b and the rear cover 1025overlap each other at least in part even in the second state.

Referring to FIG. 6 (a), the second backside 1012 b and the rear part151 b of the display unit 151 of the present disclosure may be disposedto neighbor each other in the first direction without overlapping witheach other. In case that the second backside 1012 b and the display unit151 are disposed to overlap each other, the second backside 1012 bshould be recessed into the mobile terminal 100 by the thickness of thedisplay unit 151, the rolling hinge 104 and the second rear part 1022.

In this case, as an installation space within the first frame 101 isreduced and a step difference between the first backside 1012 a and thesecond backside 1012 b is significant, a user may feel sense ofdifference when holding the extended mobile terminal 100.

Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the display unit 151 andthe second rear part 1022 are disposed in top and bottom directions,respectively, and a portion externally exposed by being extended in thesecond state and a portion at which the display unit 151 is located inthe first state may be separated in the first direction.

An extended part of the rear cover 1025 covering the second backside1012 a in the first state covers the inner components exposed inresponse to the movement of the second rear part 1022 in the secondstate. The second backside 1012 a may cover the backside of the firstframe 101 exposed in response to the movement of the rear cover 1025,and a first direction length of the second backside 1012 b may have alength equal to or greater than a moving distance of the second frame102.

The mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure includes frames 101and 102 in which components are mounted, and the frames 101 and 102 ofthe present disclosure may vary in size in the first direction as shownin FIG. 2. One or more frames 101 and 102 move relative to each other,and sizes thereof may vary in the first direction. Electronic componentsare mounted in the frames 101 and 102, and the flexible display unit 151is located out of the frames 101 and 102.

Since the mobile terminal 100 of the present disclosure includes theflexible display unit 151, the flexible display unit 151 may be combinedin a form surrounding front faces and rear faces of the frames 101 and102. The frame may include the first frame 101 and the second frame 102moving in the first direction with respect to the first frame 101. Thefirst frame 101 and the second frame 102 include front portions, a rearportions, and side portions, respectively, and are coupled to eachother.

First, the first frame 101 may correspond to a main body of the mobileterminal 100, and may define a space for accommodating therein variousparts between the first front portion 1011 and the first rear portion1012. In addition, the first frame 101 may accommodate the second frame102 movably coupled to the first frame 101 in such a space. Morespecifically, the first frame 101 may include the first front portion1011 disposed at a front portion of the mobile terminal 100 to support afront surface of the display unit 151, and the first rear portion 1012disposed on a rear surface of the mobile terminal and equipped withvarious parts.

Such first front portion 1011 and first rear portion 1012 may be spacedapart from each other at a predetermined spacing to defined thepredetermined space therebetween, and may be connected to each other bya first side portion 1013. The first side portion 1013 may be formedintegrally with the first rear portion 1012 or the first front portion1011. The camera 121, the audio output module 152, an input/outputterminal and the controller 180 may be accommodated in the space withinthe first frame 101 as the parts of the mobile terminal 100. Forexample, the controller 180 may become the main board 181 including aprocessor and electronic circuit controlling operations of the mobileterminal 100.

The battery 191, which plays a role as the power supply unit 190,occupies the largest area of the mobile terminal 100. As the mobileterminal 100 includes more components, and more particularly, a time ofusing the display unit 151 increases, capacity of the battery 191becomes more significant. Hence, a size of the battery 191 tends toincrease despite downsizing other components. Although a space occupiedby the battery 191 is large, since the battery 191 is heavy, the centerof gravity of the mobile terminal 100 may change depending on a locationof the battery 191.

As shown in FIG. 6, according to the present embodiment, the battery 191is disposed in the second frame 102, thereby minimizing the shift ofcenter of gravity when the mobile terminal 100 is extended. In case thatthe battery 191 is also installed in the first frame 101, the center ofgravity seems almost similar to a slide moving distance of the frame 101and 102. Yet, in case of the present embodiment, as weight isdistributed to the first frame 101 and the second frame 102, the centerof gravity may be located at a middle portion of an extended state. Ifthe battery 191 is located in the first frame 101 like the embodimentshown in FIG. 4, since an inside of the second frame 101 includes anempty space in the extended state of the mobile terminal 100, it causesa problem that a backside bearing power of the variable part 151 b isweak. Although the support bars of the rolling hinge 104 located on thebackside of the variable part 151 b and the second front part 1021 maysupport the variable part 151 b, as the bearing power is limited, if aconsiderable force is applied to the front side, flex deformation mayoccur.

In addition, the battery 191 is disposed between the second front part1021 and the second rear part 22 of the second frame 102, therebysupporting the backside of the variable part 151 b having moved to thefront side of the mobile terminal 100. If the battery 191 is located onthe backside of the second front part 1021, the variable part 151 bhaving moved to the front side may maintain a flat state.

Referring to FIG. 3, a lateral part of the first frame 101 may include afirst lateral side 1013 a exposed at all times and a second lateral side1013 b exposed selectively. A second lateral part 1023 forming a lateralside of the second frame 102 covers the second lateral side 1013 b inthe first state or exposes the second lateral side 1013 b in the secondstate.

The second lateral side 1013 b is located at a portion exposedexternally in the second state only and may minimize a sectionoverlapping with the second lateral part 1023 of the second frame 102.

In an inner space of the second lateral part 1023 failing to overlapwith the second lateral side 1013 b, guide rails 231 and 232 guidingslide movements of the frames 101 and 102, an auxiliary board 183connected components of the second frame 102 and the like may bedisposed. The first lateral side 1013 a and the second lateral side 1013b are located between the first front part 1011 and the first and secondbacksides 1012 a and 1012 b, thereby forming an inner space of the firstframe 101. Since the first lateral side 1013 a is exposed externally atall times, it may implement an antenna and the like. An SIM card trayslot 162 and the like, which need not be exposed at all times, may bedisposed on the second lateral side 1013 b.

The second lateral part 1023 may form a component installation spaceinside together with the second front part 1021 and the second rear part1022 and also form an exterior of the mobile terminal 100 together withthe rear cover 1025. As shown in FIG. 3, the second lateral part 1023may have the same height of the rear cover 1025. A front bezel 1014enclosing a front circumference of the display unit 151 may be furtherincluded. The front bezel 1014 fixes the end portion of the display unit151 to the first frame 101 and the second frame 102.

The front bezel 1014 may include a first bezel neighboring the firstlateral side 1013 a of the first frame and a second bezel neighboringthe second lateral part 1023 of the second frame. In the first state, asshown in FIG. 2 (a), the first and second bezels may be connected toeach other. In the second state, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the first bezeland the second bezel may be spaced apart from each other.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are diagrams showing inner components in the firststate and the second state of the mobile terminal 100, respectively. ina manner of removing the display unit 151, the rear part 1012 and 1022and the rear cover 1025, which cover the backsides of the display unit151 and the mobile terminal 100, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show the first stateand the second state, respectively. The main board 181, the battery 191,the cameras 121 a and 121 b, the vibration module 154, the microphone122 a, the audio output module 152, the rack gear 203 of the drive unit200 and the like are installed in the first frame 101. The battery 191,the user input unit, the coil antenna 114, the mobile communicationantenna 112, the microphone 122 b, the motor 201 and pinion gear (notshown) of the drive unit 200 and the like may be installed in the secondframe 102.

The main board 181 may be located in the first frame 101, and cameras121 a and 121 b, a vibration module 154, interface units 161 and 162, anantenna 112 b and the like may be disposed in the first fame 101 in amanner of being mounted on the main board 181. The cameras may furtherinclude the front camera 121 a facing the front side of the mobileterminal 100 as well as the main camera 121 b facing the backside of themobile terminal 100. For the disposition of the front camera 121 a, apartially deactivated area may be included in the top end of the displayunit 151.

A cable terminal 161 for charging or data transmission may be located onthe first lateral side 1013 a to be available even in the first state ofthe mobile terminal 100. A card mounting unit 162 for mounting a USIM ormemory card thereon is not a normally removable part, and may bedisposed adjacent to the second lateral side 1013 b that is open only inthe second state.

It may be able to implement a mobile communication antenna using thefirst lateral side 1013 a, and an array antenna 112 b for a signal ofmmWave may be disposed on the backside of the main board 181 to face thebackside of the mobile terminal 100.

The drive unit 200 providing power for the slide movement between thefirst frame 101 and the second frame 102 includes a drive motor 201, apinion gear (not shown) rotated by receiving a rotational force of thedrive motor, and a rack gear 203 engaging with the pinion gear to make arectilinear motion. The drive motor 201 and the rack gear 203 arecoupled to different frames, respectively. according to the presentembodiment, the drive motor 201 may be located in the second frame 102and the rack gear 203 may be located at the pinion gear, and vice versa.

Yet, since a portion held by a user is a portion of the second frame102, the drive motor 201 is located in the second frame 102 rather thanthe first frame 101 for the more stable driving of the drive motor 201.

The drive unit 200 may be located above the battery 191 for the stableslide movement while minimizing the short length of the rack gear 203.The drive unit 200 located above the battery 191 guides the slidemovement in the middle portion of the mobile terminal 100 in the firstdirection, whereby the drive force may be stably transferred withoutbeing inclined to one side.

By disposing a location of the rack gear 203 to be adjacent to themiddle portion of the mobile terminal 100 in the third direction, asshown in FIG. 9, the slide movement can be performed stably withoutinclination when the frames 101 and 102 slide to move.

The rack gear 203 of the drive unit 200 is disposed on the backside ofthe first front part 1011 to face the backside of the mobile terminal100. In order that the rack gear 203 can be located in the second frame102 in the first state, a slot extended in the first direction may beformed at a position corresponding to the rack gear 203 in the firstfront part 1011. In the first state, the rack gear 203 is disposed tooverlap with the battery 1191 installed in the second fame 102. In thesecond state, the rack gear 203 moves in the second direction along thefirst frame 101 and may be then extended to be located in an emptyspace.

According to the present embodiment, as the components are distributedin the first frame 101 and the second frame 102, the center of gravityis stable and the battery 191 advantageously supports the variable part151 b of the display unit 151. Yet, a signal connecting part 185 bconnecting the components installed in the first frame 101 to thecomponents installed in the second fame 102 are required. The signalconnecting part 185 b may include electrical signals and power of thebattery 191 and use substance deformable in response to movement of aframe.

The signal connecting part 185 b may be configured using a FlexiblePrinted Circuit Board (FPCB) or a coaxial cable. If an antenna signal isexternally affected, noise is generated. Hence, the signal connectingpart 185 b may use a coated coaxial cable.

The signal connecting part 185 b may be bent between the first frame 101and the second frame 102. As the signal connecting part 185 b is bent,if the FPCB or coaxial cable is folded in a thickness direction of themobile terminal 100 in the first state, radius of curvature of the bentportion is small. If a position of the bent portion varies depending ona movement of the frame, it may cause a problem of durability.

Therefore, the signal connecting part 185 b of the present disclosure isdisposed in the first direction of the mobile terminal 100 in the firststate in a manner of overlapping. And, the bent portion of the signalconnecting part 185 b is widened in the second state, whereby the anglemay change.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the signal connecting part 185 b and thesupport link 220 installed in the mobile terminal 100 according to thepresent disclosure. Since an inside of an extended part according to theextension of the mobile terminal 100 is empty, if a pressure is appliedby a strong force, flex deformation may occur. To support the emptyspace, a foldable support link 220 may be placed between the first frame101 and the second frame 102.

The support link 220 includes a first link having one end coupled to thefirst frame 101 and a second link having one end coupled to the secondframe 102. The other end of the first link and the other end of thesecond link are hinged together so that angles of the first and secondlinks may vary in response to a slide movement of the frame. While themobile terminal 100 is folded, as shown in FIG. 8, the first link andthe second link may be disposed to touch each other in a manner that anangle between the two links becomes 0°.

While the mobile terminal 100 is extended, as shown in FIG. 9, the anglebetween the first and second links may be unfolded to have about 70°. Ifthe two links are unfolded at 180°, it is difficult to fold then again.If the support link 220 is extended in the first direction, there may bea section that is not supported in the third direction. Therefore, toincrease the bearing power in both of the first direction and the thirddirection that can be supported by the support link 220, an angle of thesupport link 220 may be configured to form about 90° in the secondstate.

As shown in FIG. 10, the link may be located between the first frontpart 1011 and the second backside 1012 b in the thickness direction ofthe mobile terminal 100, and a thickness-directional width may have awidth corresponding to a space between the first front part 1011 and thesecond backside 1012 b.

The support link 220 guides the folding of the signal connecting part185 b as well as supports the empty space within the frame due to theextension of the mobile terminal 100. Since the signal connecting part185 b is formed of flexible substance, when the frame 101 and 102 slidesto move, the signal connecting part 185 b may be caught on the driveunit 200 or the frame 101 and 102 to as to be broken probably. Thesignal connecting part 185 b may be coupled to the support link 220 sothat its shape can change together with the support link 220, wherebythe signal connecting part 185 b may be prevented from being brokenwhile sliding to move.

One side of the signal connecting part 185 b may be connected to themain board 181 installed in the first frame 101, and the other side mayinclude a middle board 184 collecting signals of components located inthe second frame 102. The battery 191, the coil antenna 114, themicrophone 122 b and the antenna using the lateral part of the secondframe 102 may be connected to the main board 181 through the middleboard 184.

The coil antenna is located in a most backside direction of the mobileterminal 100, thereby enabling short-range wireless communicationwithout signal interference from other components. Thus, as shown inFIG. 8, the coil antenna may be located on the backside of the battery191.

A plurality of microphones 122 a and 122 b may be included for noisecancellation. The main microphone 122 b is generally located at thecenter of a bottom part of the mobile terminal 100. Yet, in the presentdisclosure, as the bottom part of the mobile terminal 100 is a space forwinding the display unit 151 therein, it is difficult to secure amicrophone installation space and connect to the controller. Therefore,according to the present embodiment, the microphone 122 b may bedisposed on both sides adjacent to the second direction of the secondframe 102 in a manner of avoiding the display unit 151.

The portion around which the display unit 151 is wound may include arolling bracket 1028 having a curved surface corresponding to thecurvature of the display unit 151. The rolling bracket 1028 is coupledto a first direction end portion of the second frame 102, and mayinclude a roller (not shown) rotated to support the rotation of thedisplay unit 151.

FIG. 11 (a) is a diagram showing the slide movements of the first andsecond front parts 1011 and 1021 and the linear guide 231 and 232, andFIG. 11 (b) is a cross-sectional diagram showing the location of thelinear guide according to the line C-C shown in FIG. 2.

The second front part 1021 located on the backside of the first frontpart 1011 in the first state moves in the first direction and supportsthe backside of the variable part 151 b having moved from the backsideto the front side by being exposed from the first front part 1011. Therolling hinge 104 located on the backside of the variable part 151 b mayhave the height corresponding to a step difference between the firstfront part 1011 and the second front part 1021. A linear guide 231 and232 may be further included to support the movements in the first andsecond directions by cutting off motions between the first and secondframes 101 and 102 other than the first and second directions.

If a separate guide member is attached to the first and second frames101 and 102 as a linear guide, it may be externally exposed when themobile terminal 100 is extended, thereby causing a problem of increasinga volume occupied within the mobile terminal 100.

To minimize the volume occupied within the mobile terminal 100 and cutoff the motion of the frame in the third direction, as shown in FIG. 11(b), a linear guide 231 and 232 configured with a pair of guide railsconfronting each other in the third direction may be included.

As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the lateral part of the first frame 101includes a first lateral side 1013 a exposed externally at all times anda second lateral side 1013 b exposed externally only in the secondstate, and a portion blocked by the second lateral part 1023 of thesecond frame 102 omits a lateral part even in the second state. Instead,the linear guide 231 and 232 may be disposed by utilizing this space.

Referring to FIG. 11 (b), the first guide rail 231 coupled to the firstfront part 1011 and the second guide rail 232 located at the end portionof the second front part 1021 may be disposed in a manner of confrontingeach other in the third direction. The first guide rail 231 may includea groove extended in the first direction by enclosing the second guiderail 232. The second guide rail 232 may use the end portion of thesecond front part 1021 as it is, and the first guide rail 231 mayinclude a groove in a width corresponding to the thickness of the secondfront part 1021.

The first guide rail 231 contains POM substance. As direct inter-metalfriction is avoided, abrasion of the linear guide 231 and 232 isminimized and a slide movement of the frame can be performed smoothly.

The linear guide 231 and 232 of the present embodiment is illustrated ascontaining POM in a manner that the first guide rail 231 encloses thesecond guide rail 232. On the contrary, the linear guide may include afirst guide rail 231 in a plate shape and a second guide rail 232containing the POM that encloses the first guide rail 231. In addition,as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the second guide rail 232 may be located withinthe second rear part 1022 or the second lateral part 1023 as well as thesecond front part 1021.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are diagrams showing the user input unit 123 accordingto an embodiment of a mobile terminal. As the size of the display unit151 on the front surface of the mobile terminal 100 increases, the spacefor adding the user input unit 123 other than a touchpad to the frontsurface becomes insufficient. Instead, a button may be implemented inthe lateral direction of the mobile terminal 100.

An input through the touchpad of the display unit 151 is difficult for akey, such as a volume key, used in a state of not looking at the displayunit 151, or a key, such as a power button, for activating the mobileterminal in a state that the display unit 151 is turned off. Thus, it ispreferable for such key to receive an input through the physical userinput unit 123.

It is inconvenient in terms of usability when the user input unit islocated at a too high vertical level, so that it is preferable todispose the user input unit at the location where the first side portion1013 and the second side portion 1023 overlap each other. That is, theuser input unit may be located in the second side portion 1023 or theuser input unit may be located on the second side surface 1013 b of thefirst side portion.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment regarding the user input unit 123 located inthe second side portion 1023, and FIG. 13 shows an embodiment regardingthe user input unit 123 located on the second side surface 1013 b.

The user input unit 123 in FIG. 12, which is the user input unit 123implemented in the side portion of the second frame 102, may be seatedby defining a groove 1023 g in the side portion of the second frame 102.A switch board 1233 having a dome switch 1232 may be seated in thegroove 1023 g of the side portion, a top button 1231 may be overlappedwith the dome switch 1232, and a button cover 1234 having a hole definedtherein corresponding to the top button 1231 may be inserted into theside portion to fix the top button 1231.

When a thickness of the second side portion 1023 is increased, there isa problem in that a height difference between the first side surface1013 a and the second side surface 1013 b increases. Thus, the buttoncover 1234 may be fixed at a location outward of the side portion tominimize the increase in the overall thickness of the second sideportion 1023 of the second frame 102. When the second frame 102 moves inthe first direction, a location of the user input unit 123 of such typealso changes in the first direction.

The user input unit 123 in FIG. 13 is positioned on the second sidesurface 1013 b of the first side portion 1013 of the first frame 101.Because the second side surface 1013 b is covered by the second sideportion 1023 of the second frame, it is difficult to apply the userinput unit 123 using the dome switch as in the embodiment in FIG. 12.

Instead, a user input unit may be implemented using a force sensor 1235.The force sensor 1235 is also referred to as a force touch and operatesby recognizing a pressing force. As a sensor that generates anelectrical signal in response to a minute mechanical change, the forcesensor 1235 may sense changes in a range from several um to tens of umon an attached surface.

The force sensor 1235 does not need to be directly exposed to theoutside, so that, even when the force sensor 1235 is located inward ofthe first side portion 1013, the force sensor 1235 may sense a pressureapplied to an outer surface of the second side portion 1023. Deformationwith a magnitude equal to or greater than a predetermined magnitude maybe sensed as a user input and distinguished from a touch input occurringat a time of simple gripping.

Because the second side portion moves during the extension in the secondstate to expose the second side surface 1023 b of the first sideportion, a distance from a top of the user input unit may be kept thesame as in the first state.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are diagrams showing an assembling method of themobile terminal 100 according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In a state that the first frame 101 including the firstfront part 1011 and the first lateral part 1013 and the second frame 102including the second front part 1021 are coupled together in a mannerthat the second frame 101 slides in the first frame 101, as shown inFIG. 13 (a), the second front part 1021 and the second lateral part 1023are coupled together, whereby the slide assembly shown in FIG. 14 (a)may be configured. The respective components are fastened to thebackside of the slide assembly one by one, thereby assembling the mobileterminal 100.

First of all, as shown in FIG. 14 (a), the drive unit 200 is fastened.The rack gear 203 and the drive unit 200 may be fastened to the firstfront part 1011 and the second front part 1021, respectively. The userinput unit may be fastened to the second lateral part 1023 of the secondframe 102. The FPCB for transmitting a signal of the user input unit 123to the main board 181 may be disposed on the backside of the secondfront part 1021 [FIG. 14 (a)].

Subsequently, the battery 191 is seated on the second front part 1021[FIG. 14 (b)], and the second rear part 1022 covering the backside maybe fastened to the backside of the battery 191. The middle board 184connected to the components of the second frame 102, the support link220 and the signal connecting part 185 b are then installed [FIG. 14(d)].

One side of the support link 220 is connected to the first frame 101 andthe other side is connected to the second frame 102. One side of thesignal connecting part 185 b is connected to the main board 181installed later and the other side is connected to the middle board 184.

As shown in FIG. 15 (a), the camera, the audio output module 152, thevibration module and the like may be installed in the first frame, andthe rolling bracket 1028, the antenna of the second lateral part 1023,and the auxiliary board 183 having the microphone 122 and the likemounted thereon are disposed next to both sides of the battery 191.

The fixed part of the display unit is attached to the first frame 101and the variable part 151 b is placed on the backside of the rear part1022 by enclosing the rolling bracket 1028 of the second frame 102 [FIG.15 (b)]. The rolling hinge 104 and the slide frame 103 are coupled tothe backside of the display unit, and the slide frame 103 and therolling hinge 104 may move on the second rear part 1022 of the secondframe 102 and the second front part 1021 of the rolling bracket 1028.

As shown in FIG. 15 (c), the main board 181 is installed in the firstframe 101, and the components such as the display unit 151, the signalconnecting part 185 b, the camera 121 and the like are connected to themain board 181. Thereafter, the first backside 1012 a, the secondbackside 1021 b and the rear cover 1025, which form the backsideexterior of the mobile terminal 100, are combined to complete theassembly [FIG. 15 (d)].

As described above, a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure may maintain a flat state of an extended display unitwithout deflection.

Moreover, as a mobile terminal is extended, since inner components aredistributed instead of being concentrated on one side, displacement ofcenter of gravity can be minimized. Since the center of gravity does notmove upward, a user can stably use the mobile terminal in the extendedstate.

Moreover, it is possible to reduce the inflow of foreign materials intothe interior of a mobile terminal by minimizing the exposure ofcomponents to an extended part in an extended state of the mobileterminal.

Furthermore, usability can be raised by minimizing a step differencegenerated from an exterior in an extended state of a mobile terminal.

While the present disclosure has been described and illustrated hereinwith reference to the preferred embodiments of the mobile terminal 100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the presentdisclosure is non-limited by the embodiments disclosed herein butintends to give a broadest scope matching the principles and newfeatures disclosed herein. It will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that various modifications and variations can be made in thepresent specification without departing from the spirit or scope of thedisclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present specification coversthe modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they comewithin the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile terminal comprising: a first frame; asecond frame configured to move with respect to the first frame in afirst direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction; adrive unit configured to switch the mobile terminal to an extended stateor a contracted state by moving the second frame with respect to thefirst frame in the first direction or the second direction; a flexibledisplay unit comprising a fixed part coupled to a front side of thefirst frame and a variable part extended in the first direction from thefixed part, wherein an end portion of the variable part is curved towarda direction of a rear side of the mobile terminal and is configured toslide with respect to a rear side of the second frame; a main boardinstalled in the first frame; and a battery installed in the secondframe such that the battery moves together with the second frame.
 2. Themobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first frame is located on top ofthe second frame.
 3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the driveunit comprises: a drive motor coupled to the second frame; a pinion gearcoupled to the drive motor; and a rack gear coupled to the first frameto make a rectilinear motion in the first direction or the seconddirection by receiving a drive force of the pinion gear.
 4. The mobileterminal of claim 3, wherein the rack gear is disposed to cover aportion of the battery and wherein the second frame comprises a gearslot such that the gear slot receives the rack gear in the contractedstate.
 5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising aconnection connecting the battery and the main board, wherein theconnection has a curved portion having an angle varying in response to astate of the mobile terminal.
 6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, furthercomprising a support link located between the first frame and the secondframe, wherein an angle of the support link increases based on anextension of the mobile terminal, wherein the angle of the support linkdecreases based on a contraction of the mobile terminal, and wherein theconnection is coupled to the support link such that a shape of theconnection changes in response to the angle of the support linkincreasing or decreasing.
 7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein thefirst frame comprises a first front part located on a front side of themobile terminal and coupled to the fixed part of the flexible displayunit and a first rear part located on the rear side of the mobileterminal, wherein the second frame comprises a second front part locatedbetween the first front part and the battery and a second rear partlocated on a rear side of the battery, and wherein the variable partswitches from a rear side of the second rear part to a front side of thesecond front part based on the second frame moving in the firstdirection.
 8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the battery islocated between the second front part and the second rear part and has athickness corresponding to a space between the second front part and thesecond rear part.
 9. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the secondframe further comprises a rear cover covering the variable part coupledon the rear side of the second rear part and wherein the variable partis configured to slide between the rear cover and the second rear part.10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the rear cover comprises atransparent portion that transmits light based on activation of theflexible display unit, wherein the flexible display unit is locatedbetween the rear cover and the second rear part.
 11. The mobile terminalof claim 9, wherein the first rear part comprises a first rear side anda second rear side located in the first direction on the first rear sideand wherein the rear cover is extended in the second direction to coverthe second rear side in the contracted state.
 12. The mobile terminal ofclaim 11, wherein the rear cover is disposed in a manner of overlappingwith at least one portion of the second rear side in the extended stateof the mobile terminal.
 13. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein thefirst frame further comprises a first guide rail located in a lateraldirection of the battery and extended in the first direction, whereinthe second frame further comprises a second guide rail located at an endportion of the second front part or the second rear part and coupled tothe first guide rail such that the second guide rail is configured toslide in the first direction with respect to the first guide rail, andwherein the rear cover covers the first guide rail and the second guiderail.
 14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first framecomprises a first lateral part located on a lateral side of the mobileterminal, wherein a second lateral part is located at a the lateral sideof the second frame, and wherein the first lateral part comprises afirst lateral side and a second lateral side covered by the secondlateral part and exposed in the extended state of the mobile terminal.15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, further comprising: a sub-boardcoupled within the second lateral part; a connection connecting thesub-board and the main board; and an antenna radiation part coupled tothe second lateral part and supplied with output from the sub-board. 16.A mobile terminal, comprising: a first frame; a second frame configuredto move with respect to the first frame in a first direction or a seconddirection opposite to the first direction; a flexible display unitcomprising a fixed part coupled to a front side of the first frame and avariable part extended in the first direction from the fixed part,wherein an end portion of the variable part is curved toward a directionof a rear side of the mobile terminal and is configured to slide withrespect to a rear side of the second frame; and a first guide railextended in the first direction, wherein the second frame comprises asecond guide rail coupled to the first guide rail such that the secondguide rail is configured to slide in the first direction with respect tothe first guide rail and a rear cover covering the variable part coupledon a rear side of the second frame, the first guide rail and the secondguide rail.
 17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the first guiderail or the second guide rail faces a lateral part of the mobileterminal.
 18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the first guiderail and the second guide rail are located on both sides of a batterysuch that the first guide rail and the second guide rail are symmetricalwith respect to an axis perpendicular to the first direction.